To get us through the late-Summer doldrums of the NBA, we’re reviewing teams from around the league and how their offseasons went.
New York Knicks
Key Additions:
Mikal Bridges
Cameron Payne
Keita Bates-Diop
Dillon Jones
Pacôme Dadiet (R)
Key Losses:
Isaiah Hartenstein
Alec Burks
Bojan Bogdanovic
Shake Milton
Offseason Review and 2024-25 Season Outlook:
A month after seeing their storybook 2023-24 season end in a Game 7 home loss to the Indiana Pacers amidst an avalanche of injuries, followed up by their division rival Boston Celtics hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the New York Knicks decided now was the time for them to take their own title swing. They did so by going all-in on the championship vibes of the 2017-2018 Villanova Wildcats title team – they traded for Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets at the cost of five 1st round picks and a future pick-swap, and signed Jalen Brunson to a 4-year, $156.5M extension (far less than he could have signed a year from now). The fact that their 5-year, $212.5M extension deal with OG Anunoby a day later was just their third most consequential move of the summer is absolutely astounding. They also retained Precious Achiuwa to keep some of their big-man core around, as Isaiah Hartenstein left to sign 3-year, $87M deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While games aren’t won by summer moves in the absence of a bouncing ball, it’s hard not to look at this Knicks team and envision a contender. The Knicks went all-in on Brunson after his 28.7 point, 6.7 assist season that earned him a 5th place MVP finish and a 2nd All-NBA team nod. They saved two-way star Mikal Bridges from the rebuilding squad across the bridge to complete the Villanova Infinity Gauntlet with Brunson, Bridges, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo – and now they have to figure out who the heck of those four are going to come off the bench. Losing Hartenstein hurts, as his size and physicality was a huge part of their postseason run. They’ll be banking on Julius Randle (it’s crazy it’s taken me this long to mention him) and Mitchell Robinson staying healthy (they combined to only play 77 games last year), and that Achiuwa can take a next step. But this Knicks team runs deep, also featuring 3rd-year guard Miles McBride and big Jericho Sims off the bench. The Knicks may be praying to avoid the injury curse again, but on paper this looks to be an insanely deep and talented squad – and when you’re a team worried about injuries, it’s nice to add Mikal Bridges and his incredible 474-game ironman streak.
The Knicks also signed Head Coach Tom Thibodeau to a 3-year contract extension after Thibs led the squad to back-to-back 2nd-round playoff performances. This is as all-in as a team can get, and while it’s fair to wonder if the New York freaking Knicks are ever wise to go all-in and trade four of their own 1sts (the latest being in 2031), these are the types of gambles that NBA GMs wish they had the talent, assets, and stones to make. If they can stay healthy, I’d bet on the Knicks to be the real challenger in the East to Boston’s throne.
Why We Hate Them:
Personally, I hate this team because they aren’t my team. I was ALL in on the 2017-18 Villanova squad during their championship run (I won the old Sactown Royalty bracket challenge that season when I predicted they’d beat Michigan in the title game). Bridges was my premier non-Luka draft crush in 2018, and now he’s since exceeded EVERY expectation anyone had for him. Anunoby was my favorite for the Kings at pick #10 in 2017, and now he’s the Knicks 3rd or 4th best player. Josh Hart was my answer to “who should the Kings trade for this trade deadline?” in February 2023, and then his jack-of-all-trades, surprise-master-of-them-all game made him a hero in New York. Oh, and the Kings burned bridges with Donte DiVincenzo after the 2021-22 season, and his stats last year (especially on the defensive end) are solidly stronger than those of Kevin Huerter, who has a more expensive contract. Hindsight is FULLY 20-20 on this move, but Donte has turned into an ideal 5th starter/reserve for this Knicks team as we all hope/wonder if Huerter can maybe do the same. I’m envious of this team’s expected comradery and talent level, and of the ability of a front office to get moves done to go all-in when they think their title window is open.
What especially impressed me about this Knicks team is that they never let injuries become an excuse, and kept playing their hearts out even when they were so depleted by injuries, with Randle and Robinson out, OG and Brunson limping.
Comradery is nice; winning is better (and creates comradery).
The current iteration of the Knicks are a likeable bunch..scrappy dawgs that do anything to win and JB epitomizes that.
Look forward to them taking the East next season.
Greg – Please add Tyler Kolek – I think this rook will make a difference. He had a very stout VSL and IMO, he seems to be a Thibodeau type player (I don’t mean and don’t know if he can play 44 min per game, I meant he has, sigh, I will use this current overused one: “dawg” in him.
The NYK are a group of fighters on the court – they are tough and determined. A joy to watch. A team that has been missing from MSG for too long a time.
Oops, I meant Bryant, not Greg.
(and nice gold medal for Coach Few)
Nice to see Few get a title
To Bryant’s point, the Kings could have had their choice of Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo (Fox’s Kentucky teammate), John Collins, Jarrett Allen, OG Anuoby, Kyle Kuzma, Derrick White or Josh Hart. And in the second round, they could have picked Hartenstein, Dillon Brooks, or Monte Morris (meh). All of these players are mentioned as who we should have on the team. We could have had any of three of them.
Vlade strikes again. His biggest blunder after not taking Luka and the Philly trade was the 2017 draft and trading out of 10 and moving down to 15 and 20 to take Justin Jackson and Giles.
Monk, Spida and Bam went between picks 11-14. I still remember that draft and wondering why we didn’t stay at 10 and take Monk or Spida.
One of my favorite games last season, even though it was a loss, was that game against the Knicks where it was just a 90s-style slugfest of physical defense from both teams. I felt exhausted after that game but it was so much fun. I really love the way the Knicks play.
I am glad the Knicks are in the East. Hindsight on the draft is a bear.
They paid too much- more than the Kings could have- for OG and they pay Randle too much and they paid too much for Bridges but……………………..they are a serious contender. There is a lesson there.
Those mid level first round picks are always so tricky.
Not sure which specific game you are talking about? I might have been at the same one?
I was at a Knicks game with my kids last year. Definitely a great game in terms of basketball. Bad game as a Kings fan. The Knicks simply decided they were not going to lose. The Kings played their game and were baffled by the Knicks.
I had to go look it up, but it was the March 16th game, Knicks won 98-91.
I think that was it?
Brunson put up 40+ if I remember correctly. Knicks fan were sneaking down to the lower level by the court yelling loudly and security kicked a bunch of them out.
The Knicks are the opposite of the Kings. Hard nosed physical defense. Determined to win. Will crush a team in the half court when it is time to play that style.
I doubt the team even understands that it is basketball they are watching when reviewing a Knicks film.
Looking back a DiVincenzo’s short time here in Sac and I can’t help but wonder what Monte and company were thinking in letting him go. I know Donte’s camp felt hurt and wanted out, but I really point at the Kings for fumbling things.
Quick recap: Monte famously traded (or at least attempted to) for Donte twice. His first attempt in a S&T for Bogi in 2020 was nixed for “tampering.” Monte then got his man in 2022 by trading out a certain #2 pick. This happened just 2 days after Monte sent out Hali and Buddy for Sabonis. A backcourt log jam never really occurred as Donte arrived to a Kings team with just Fox, Mitchell and newly acquired Justin Holiday as the guard rotation.
In the final few months of the season, Fox and Sabonis sat with injuries and the Kings tanked the rest of the season, with the bench getting heavy minutes. Donte, however, was kept as a bench piece as Coach Gentry chose to give the starting spots to Mitchell and Holiday. Donte got minutes, but was obviously butt-hurt in coming off the bench.
The offseason hit and the rumors of Donte’s displeasure were quick. The Kings then chose NOT to extend the qualifying offer to him and instead let him hit UFA. This happened BEFORE Monte traded for Huerter and then signed Monk in free agency. Donte went on to sign with the Warriors for a cheap $9.3M two year deal (second year being a PO).
One has to wonder what would have been had the Kings simply retained RFA Donte and matched any other offer, or at least worked out a S&T. Would Monte have traded for Huerter or signed Monk? Who knows, but it is interesting that for a guy that Monte really seemed to want, he’d just let him walk a few months later for nothing.
So many variables – Mike Brown had been hired but he was an unknown, and DiVencenzo and his agent (the other big variable) may have wanted a payday (amount and years) that was not compatible with what Sac was comfortable in offering (he had a significant injury history). How was he in the locker room with De’Aaron? Maybe the Monk deal was already done (before it was announced) and Fox and Monk had the wink,wink in place.
DiVencenzo ended up being a Warrior because he wasn’t getting offers for more. This turned out well for him as he had a big career upswing at Golden State.
Pieces fit differently in different puzzles. He has been his best as a Knick with Hart and Brunson.
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